Children's Place

Perhaps, sometime later in your life
you will walk down the street
and you'll see me
but you won't know why my face made you smile.
Memories of building blocks
and chicken nuggets will fade into thoughts that
you won't be able to gather anymore.
But for now, I remember you as you are
little rumbling kids, the little Josh to my
Big Josh.
hurry let's play monster, get in the house!
the monster is coming,
hurry hurry hurry
wait
now the monster needs his hair washed.
Paints, legos, and nap mats will all be a figment
of your past.
But for now, I'm your positive male role model
and you make my week.
I can't function unless I get my hugs
and we get to read a book,
of course we will make the animal noises.
Our time is always so short,
your moms come and bundle you up
like little wobbly eskimos,
bye big josh, and then my hug.
As I sit and clean up the blocks and the crayons
after you leave
listening to the hum of the heater
I wonder,
will you notice me, with my new face later in life,
and will you smile and not know why.